5 Ways Stevie Nicks Has Influenced Pop Culture
Stevie Nicks has had a storied career from her time in Fleetwood Mac and later as a solo artist – keep reading to find out more about her influence on pop culture over the decades.
By bonneville on March 6, 2024
Actively engaged with music since her senior year of high school, Stevie Nicks has had a storied career over the decades. Joining Fleetwood Mac in the early ’70s put her in the spotlight, and since then, she’s navigated different avenues of growth, whether in the role of an artist, lover, or auntie.
As “one more big time rock and roll star,” she has influenced countless other artists and musicians in more ways than one. Keep reading to learn more about the mark Stevie Nicks has made on pop culture.
Inspiring other musicians from all walks of life
In 1998, Fleetwood Mac was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2019, the organization inducted Stevie Nicks as a solo artist. This makes her the first female artist to be submitted twice for the award. And rightly so: beyond her career with Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks has had a successful solo career that inspired countless other musicians.
Among those who pulled inspiration from her work, notable standouts include The Chicks (formerly known as the Dixie Chicks), who covered her hit “Landslide,” and Destiny’s Child, who sampled “Edge of Seventeen” on their 2001 hit “Bootylicious.”
You can find traces of her singing style passed on in other notable acts like Sheryl Crow and Taylor Swift, Vanessa Carlton, and even Harry Styles, who have all cited her as a source of musical inspiration. Even Eminem reportedly listened to plenty of Fleetwood Mac, being particularly fond of the track “Rhiannon.”
Iconic fashion looks
Nicks was known to make an impression with her signature bohemian looks. At only 5’1″, she wanted to stand out amongst her peers on stage, opting always to wear platform shoes to make her appear taller. She was also the queen of layering textures, patterns, and colors – though she typically prefers to stick to an all-black ensemble.
While many people often associated her with Wiccan beliefs because of her style, Nicks denied any involvement. In fact, she stopped wearing black for several years in response to threats she would receive accusing her of being a witch. She donned cream colors, apricots, light greens, and other pastels during this period. However, she put this phase behind her and later wore all black again.
Put simply, she wears what makes her look and feel magical and exciting. Whether it’s shawls, fringes, or brooches to jazz up a simple outfit, Nicks is a trendsetter with her fits and stage props. In her own words, she states, “I don’t do casual very well. Even in my normal life, I’m in cashmere pants and a cashmere sweater and cashmere thoughts.”
Notable film and television appearances
Though she has only ever played herself, Nicks knows how to play up her role for the camera just as much as she does on the stage. Nicks has made notable cameos on TV series like “American Horror Story” (2014, 2018) and “Up All Night” (2012), along with participating in documentaries such as “Stevie Nicks: In Your Dreams” (2013) and “Destiny Rules (with Fleetwood Mac)” (2003).
Nicks was also on The Voice as a mentor with Adam Levine in 2014.
Charitable causes
In 2008, Nicks founded the Stevie Nicks Band Of Soldiers non-profit to provide outreach and support to US soldiers. After visiting Army and Navy medical centers in Washington D.C., she wanted to lift their spirits by giving them more access to the tool that lifts her own: music. She supports more American aid for Ukrainian troops, showing a Ukrainian flag and talking about her experiences with soldiers in her current tour.
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Stevie Nicks inspires people to be true to yourself
Nicks has led an unconventional life marked by various affairs, including a brief marriage, drug use, and an intentional choice to be childless. Throughout it all, she has handled herself gracefully and used her songwriting prowess to keep pushing through the difficult moments in life with music.
By embracing her shadow self along with the light, Nicks shows that despite the eccentricities and difficult moments, life can still be full of meaning and joy.
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